Michigan Bike and Pedestrian Funding Opportunities
| Categories | Funding, Funding Sources |
| Keywords | Act 51, friends groups, grants, Michigan, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Michigan Transportation Fund, Recreation Improvement Fund, Recreational Trails Program, SAFETEA-LU, Transportation Enhancements |
| Posted by | kruppc |
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Michigan currently has a tremendous set of financial, institutional, and stakeholder resources that have helped make us a national leader in rail-trail development. Building on the resources outlined below and adding innovative new tools will enable us to reach the goals identified in this coordinated state wide trails vision.
Financial
Funds for land acquisition and trail development are available through a number of different sources both public and private. While each funding source has its own set of limitations and requirements it is be possible to leverage many different funding sources to complete different phases of the a Statewide, interconnected network of trails. Some of the more commonly utilized sources of trail funding are identified below, while other funding opportunities are identified in the Appendix
Public
Federal
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) is a six-year transportation authorization, which included hundreds of specifically-authorized high priority projects. Among these were $52 million in high priority trails projects in Michigan. Additionally, the Federal Highway Administration administers a number of different programs authorized by the SAFETEA-LU legislation in which funding can be used for trail development. The Appendix provides a summary of these programs.
The Transportation Enhancement (TE) Grant Program administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is another source available for trail acquisition and development. Since the Transportation Enhancement program began in 1992, MDOT has awarded an average of $8 million per year for the three non-motorized enhancement categories:
- Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.
- Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicycles.
- Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use thereof
- for pedestrian or bicycle trails).
The Recreational Trails Fund is comprised of federal gas taxes that MDOT receives from the Federal Highway Administration and passes on to the DNR for administration and distribution. These funds are for the maintenance and development of recreational trails and related facilities. Annual appropriation by the Michigan Legislature varies, Fiscal Year 2005 Appropriation was $1,800,000 – approximately $1,500,000 available for grants.
State
The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) administered by the Department of Natural Resources provides grants for trail acquisition and development. Since its inception in 1976, the MNRTF has provided more than $62 million in grants for 184 rail acquisition and development projects in 44 counties.
Recreation Improvement Fund
This program is for the operation, maintenance and development of recreation trails, restoration of lands damaged by off-road vehicles, and inland lake cleanup. There is no open application process and most of the money is used on DNR projects, a DNR Division can sponsor local projects.
Michigan Transportation Fund – Section 10k of Public Act 51 of 1951
Administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation, Section 10k of Act 51 of 1951, as amended, (Michigan’s transportation law (MCLA 247.660k)) reserves 1% of state transportation funds for non-motorized transportation. These funds can be used for on-road facilities such as paved road shoulders and bicycle lanes or off-road facilities such as shared use trails and sidewalks. However, many of the improvements on a road, street, or highway, which facilitates non-motorized transportation, can be considered qualified non-motorized expenditures for the purposes of this section.
Local
Transportation Improvements Program (TIP) and Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
Local units of government can include and fund non-motorized improvements, within road rights-of-ways, as incidental parts of larger transportation projects, and thus these improvements qualify for the same transportation funds as the rest of the roadway construction or improvement project.
Millages, Bonds and Assessments
Local, county, or state millages and bond issues may be passed by voters or governing bodies. A number of Michigan communities have millages for park operations, maintenance, development, and land acquisition. This can be one of the most effective approaches for funding a local trail system initiative.
Private
Foundations and Organized Trails Groups have the ability to raise capital and generate local support for trail acquisition and development projects. Notable examples include:
- The Southeast Michigan Community Foundations Greenways Initiative, which recently completed a $25 million matching funds grant campaign.
- The West Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition (WMTGC), which has been actively raising money to meet their goal of $6 million to leverage state and federal grants for the construction of nearly 140 miles of new trails.
- The Kalamazoo River Valley Trailway Coalition, which began a $8 million fundraising campaign in 2006 with the goal of supporting the construction of the 30 mile Kalamazoo River Valley Trailway.
Businesses
Local businesses are frequent partners in the promotion of non-motorized transportation and trail projects. Public-spirited companies provide meeting rooms, provide small grants, donate copying or printing services on company equipment, or free or reduced-fee use of the company’s special services.
Friends Groups and Other Organizations
The long-term success of many trail projects and non-motorized initiatives have been due to “friends” groups and advocacy organizations that follow a project from inception to implementation. Friends groups can also provide a number of services including, physical labor as through “Adopt-a-Trail” maintenance or construction activities, fundraising, user education, promotion, and actual surveillance of the facility.
Civic groups and school groups can play an important role in supports of non-motorized projects through advocacy, promotion, and hosting events. Local organizations often best understand local needs.
Appendix is available in the original word document: bike_ped_fundingopportunities
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